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Como Islands of the Moon

Rich in Swahili Culture

Potentially a holiday paradise with picture-postcard beaches, located in a strategic position at the northernend of the Mozambique Channel, the archipelago of the Comoros Islands consists of four islands: Ngazidja(Grande Comore), Mwali (Moheli), Ndzuani (Anjouan), and Maore(Mayotte).The islands arose from the seabed of the Western Indian Ocean as the result of volcanic activity.

The Union of Comoros islands onceplayed a major role in the world economy and that of the Indian Ocean. For centuries, they were a major stopover along the mercantile routes from the East towards Africa and to the West. The capital city Moroni is on Ngazidja (Grande Comore) island.

In the waters ard the deep blue sea ound the islands, lives the famous Coelacanth. by western scientists to have been extinct for millions of years. But in the second half of the last century, an Ichthyologist learnedthat caught coelacanths in the deep waters surrounding the islands of Ngazidja (Grande Comore) and Nzwani (Anjouan). Several specimens have since been preserved and can be seen today in museums around the world.

Comoros Natural Beauty

The Comoros archipelago is blessed with warm tropical and fauna, incredible white sandy beaches, a rich culture, and a genuinely hospitable population. Comorian beaches are considered to be among the most beautiful in the world. The name of the islands comes

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from the Arabic word“qamar” meaning “moon”. Known as the Perfumed Islands as well, Comoros Islands are the world’s number one producer of the YlangYlang essence, an essential ingredient in perfumes. In addition, it is the world’s second largest producer of Vanilla.

New visitors to Comoros will be amazed by the wondrous experience the Islands offer. For nature lovers who are bored looking for some refreshing inspirational time off, the Perfumed Islands will be the rightplace for an escape to a relaxing atmosphere of untouched wonderful nature with lush foliage, majestic waterfalls, picturesque towns, and incredible coral reefs. And travelers seeking a unique adventure will enjoy

FACTS OF COMOROS ISLANDS

The archipelago of Comoros is situated in the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean between the eastern coast of Africa and Madagascar. It includes three volcanic islands, numerous coral reefs and uninhabited islets. Mayote, the most southern island, remains a French dependency, although claimed by Comoros. Long an Arab trading outpost along the East

African coast, the islands were annexed by their independence in 1975 but Mayotte is now a

French department Comoros is heavily developing his tourism sector in his goals for 2030, health care system is a mix betwen traditional medicine which is noted as

Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, fresh products are available the whole year and added with the imports of some necessities an active trading partner.

discovering the wonders of the Comoros that shelters some endangered species in its seas and forests, such as the Hawksbill and green sea turtles, the Coelacanth (or Gombessa), an endangered “living fossil” for millions of years. Another wonder found nowhere else in the world is the Livingstone’s 3-meter wing span.

The “Islands of the Moon” also offer a variety of outdoor activities & water sports: hiking, camping, diving, sailing, and for those who need some delight in sunbathing on the white-sand seashore!!!

Comorian Rich Culture

The culture of the Comoros is no less rich and interesting than its nature. Being located in the Mozambique Channel at the Indian Ocean, the Islands have played a central role in the commerce among the Arab World, Europe and Africa. The Comorian people’s customs, traditional clothes, cuisine and celebrations demonstrate a blend of diverse cultures imported centuries ago by Arabs, Portuguese and French traders.

on the Comoros, the local people of the Islands still wear their tra ditional clothes (especially the elderly). The women’s clothes consist of Shiromani, lively colored long dressed and skirts. Another traditional way of dressing up for Comorian women is the use of sandalwood and coral paste as a beauty mask on their faces.

There is an abundance of life in the sea around the Comoros. One can find everything from giant whales, baby sharks, big manta rays, sailfish, sunfish to lobsters, crabs and tiny shrimp. Deep water close to the islands, coral reefs, miles of sandy beaches, plus freshwater streams and shoreline springs provide multiple habitats for the marine life.

The men’s traditional clothes are a colorful long skirt, a long white shirt, called "kandu", expensive skull cap that has a high value among the people of the Comoros.

The rich cultural heritage of the Islands of the Moon has generated a variety of beautifully made crafts which includes: pearl and shell jewellery, wood carving, pottery and basketry, women cloth, embroidered skull caps and slippers, carved chests, panels and portes-croix (lecterns).

The Comorian cuisine is as delicious as it is healthy. It is based on fresh seafood (lobster, crab, shrimp...), locally grown rice and vegetables, and tropical fruits (mango, pineapple, coconuts...) During your trip ask for a nice plate of "madaba and maele" which is cassava leaves cooked with coconut eaten with rice or "ndrovi ya nazi" which is green bananas with coconut.

People in Comoros greatly enjoy music and dancing. The Comorian music is historically linked to both East Africa and France, and now has a strong taarab music, however, remains the islands, and a Comorian version called twarab is popular. Leading twarab bands include Sambeco and the new generation with Samra, Farid Youssouf or Moussa Youssouf Modern musicians like Dadiposlim, participant to the Voice Africa and leader of Twamaya House, Goulam who is now worldwidely known, Zoubs Mars who made a show in Paris, Da Most Wanted is known for his dance hall music played even in USA in festival. Comorian youth listen mostly to trendy artist such as Fahid Le Bledard, Norena, Lémir, AST, Ibou Black. Comorian instruments include the ‘ud and violin’, the most frequent

accompaniment for twarab, as well as gabusi (a type of lute) and ndzendze. Modern musicians, as reggae/zouk/ soukous fusionists like Maalesh and Salim Ali Amir, as well as Nawal, a singer-songwriter and instrumentalist.

The Islands

Haphazardly scattered across the Indian Ocean, the mysterious, outrageous and enchanting Comoros islands are the kind of place you go to just drop off the planet for a while. Far removed from the clutter that comes with conventional paradises – sprawling hotels, neon discos – the Comoros are so remote even an international fugitive could hide out here. In particular, the island of Mohéli, boasting the sleepy town of Fomboni. Anjouan is the beautiful sister among the already good-looking cluster of islands, it does paradise so well, it actually lives up to all the clichéd expectations any traveller could possibly muster – Palms, bananas and the scent of ylang-ylang and cloves borne on the breeze.

Rich in Swahili culture, and devoutly Muslim, the charming inhabitants of Comoros come from a legendary stock of Arab traders, Persian sultans, African slaves and Portuguese pirates. The four developed islands offer everything from relaxing on white-sand beaches by turquoise seas to hiking through rainforests on the lookout for giant bats. Grande Comore, the largest of the islands, boasts the largest active volcano in the world, Mt Karthala, which last blew its lid aftermath though has created a spectacular desert landscape on the mountain, and walking and trekking here is particularly good. Also, on Grande Comore, timeless Moroni is oozing with old-time Arabian several sites of the Sultanat of Comoros as well as in Anjouan where you can see the marvellous Citadelle de Mutsamudu.

Holidaying in the Comoros isn’t for everyone; travel will kick your arse at times. Everything moves mora mora (slowly slowly) and tourism facilities are far from plush. Islam, and all its traditions, is evident everywhere. Women and men are expected to show modesty and alcohol is not prohibited in pubs, bars, nightclub and some restaurants.

If your idea of the perfect holiday is more about discovering smiling humans in a greenery paradise, starring at a sunset on a deserted beach sipping coconut water, trekking to a volcano, dancing with dolphins and whales, discovering three to four destinations in ONE, then a safari in the exotic Comoros will probably be the kind of unpredictable, swashbuckling adventure you’ve been craving.

All Photograph Courtesy of Albalad News Paper of Comoros (rana.wakim@comoros-island.com)